engShiraz University of Medical SciencesJournal of Research on History of Medicine2251-886X2251-886X2012-11-011442867EditorialThe City of Shiraz and Fars Province, the Root of Medical Sciences in the HistoryArman Zargaranzargarana@sums.ac.ir1Research Office for the History of Persian Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iranhttp://rhm.sums.ac.ir/article_42867_bfae417a777c9f875b93c60f421722d4.pdfCity of ShirazFarsMedical SciencesHistoryengShiraz University of Medical SciencesJournal of Research on History of Medicine2251-886X2251-886X2012-11-011442866Original ArticleLeprosy in MesopotamiaSimon Brownsimon.brown@utas.edu.au1David Simcock2School of Human Life Sciences, University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 1320, Launceston, Tasmania 7250, AustraliaInstitute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New ZealandLeprosy is an ancient disease, known from South Asia since at least 2000 BCE. While there is no physical evidence of this disease in the region before about 50 CE, five different words are translated as “leprosy” in Mesopotamian texts and some of them occur frequently. Based on the texts, one word (garāṣu) is rarely used and there is evidence that the other four words relate to diseases that were treated, could be cured and, did not always require that affected individuals be permanently excluded from society. From this we conclude that the four commonly seen words do not describe modern leprosy. Three words (saḫarašubbû, epqu, garābu) also signify “scales” or “scabs”, which naturally prompts the speculation that they are skin diseases more serious than eczema. The final word (būšānu) has been associated with several modern diseases, but the common feature appears to be a bacterial infection affecting the skin, mouth and nose.http://rhm.sums.ac.ir/article_42866_14785d0eee72aeecf93ef00b109e13a5.pdfinfectionLeprosyMesopotamiaSkin diseaseengShiraz University of Medical SciencesJournal of Research on History of Medicine2251-886X2251-886X2012-11-011442868Original ArticleConsideration on Trephinated skull in the Ŝahre-e Sukte (Burnt City) in SistanJafar Rezaianjafarrezaian@gmail.com1Farzad Forouzanfar2Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranAnthropology Research Center, Iranian Cultural Heritage, Handicraft and Tourism Organization, Tehran, IranCranial trephination is a technique which was used by ancient people to trephine skulls with some instruments. There are different types of trephination, the most common and primitive of which were trianglular and quadrangular in shape. A group burial was found in an archeological excavation of Burnt City in Sistan province in 1977. Out of the 13 skeletons, one skeleton belonged to a 13th years old girl who had a triangular perforation in the right parietal area (Number: GTT1003J). In this research, after assessing the skull damage, cephalometric caliper gauges with salt and volume were checked in Tehran medical history museum. Cephalometric considerations showed unusual indexes (Skull index: 76.61; Upper facial index: 58.94) being classified as mesocephalic and Euryprospic. These indexes shows the skull were larger than usual. Also, Owing to the presence of porothic hyperostosis (PH), the patient is probably suffering from anemia. According to the findings the surgical operation was successful. Since there was certain treatment other than the operation for this ailment, the operation was probably performed following certain cultural and or ethnic beliefs.http://rhm.sums.ac.ir/article_42868_5cbaecf64c968c4dbc16a9a58bafef58.pdfŜahre-e Sukte (Burnt City)Cranial trepanationPorothic hyperostosisthe Bronze AgeengShiraz University of Medical SciencesJournal of Research on History of Medicine2251-886X2251-886X2012-11-011442869Original ArticleBaha’ al-Dawlah Razi (860-912 AH), the Innovator Surgeon, Empiricist Physician and Pioneer in ImmunologySeyyed Alireza Golshanigolshani@rhm.ir1Ziba Ghafouri2Akbar Hakimipour3Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranDepartment of History, Faculty of Literature and Humanity, Shiraz University, Shiraz, IranDepartment of History, Faculty of Literature and Humanity, Shiraz University, Shiraz, IranBaha’ al-Dawlah Razi was one of the most important physicians in Safafid dynasty in Iran. He wrote his large medical book, Kholasat al-Tajarob at 1501 AD. He worked as physician in the courts of two dynasties, Teimurid and Safavid. He had interesting innovations and findings in surgery, immunology and also in treatment. As examples, we can note to his description of pertussis and also his oral vaccination method for Smallpox.http://rhm.sums.ac.ir/article_42869_fcd545b5526229437db95d124a034152.pdfBaha’ al-DawlahKhulasat al-TajarobSurgeonImmunologyHistory of medicineengShiraz University of Medical SciencesJournal of Research on History of Medicine2251-886X2251-886X2012-11-011442870Original ArticleMidwifery and Gynecology in Islamic CivilizationAsghar Montazer al-Ghaemm_dehghan1358@yahoo.com1Masumeh Dehghan2Department of History, Isfahan University, Isfahan, IranDepartment of History, Isfahan University, Isfahan, IranIn 41 Ayat of Holy Quran, it is discussed about child birth, formation of fetus in uterus and also its process. It led to attention of Muslim scholars to this topic. They had wide researches and experiments on gynecology, fertility, Infertility and childbirth. Their findings are considerable even in current era. Medical sciences in Islamic golden age (contemporaneous with medieval age in the west) divided to various specific and professional fields like gynecology. In this research, we tried to consider Muslim’s achievements and findings in midwifery and gynecology to answer below questions: What is Quran’s opinion about forming fetus in uterus? Which advancements were acquired by Muslim’s scholars about disorders related to fertility and infertility? What was the opinion of Muslim physicians about the importance of pregnancy and childbirth in relation between child and mother? Muslim physicians had which advancements in gynecological diseases and also education of midwifery?http://rhm.sums.ac.ir/article_42870_b929729d088f95fc02d4dcf9d999d8c2.pdfIslamic medicineMidwiferyGynecologyAvicennaRhazesFetusengShiraz University of Medical SciencesJournal of Research on History of Medicine2251-886X2251-886X2012-11-011442865Gout Remedies in Traditional Iranian Medicine (TIM)Pouya Faridifaridip@sums.ac.ir1Zohreh Abolhassanzadehabolhasanz@sums.ac.ir2Mohammad M. Zarshenaszarm@sums.ac.ir3Abdolali Mohagheghzadehmohaghegh@sums.ac.ir4Department of Traditional Pharmacy, Shiraz Faculty of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranDepartment of Traditional Pharmacy, Shiraz Faculty of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranStudent Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranDepartment of Traditional Pharmacy, Shiraz Faculty of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranPractice and study of medicine in Iran has a long and prolific history. Iran has all characteristics of an indigenous culture which has so far discovered numerous natural products. Unfortunately, scant research has been conducted on this system of medicine and ethnopharmacology of Iran. Gout is a historical disease that is still widespread all around the world. As numerous remedies used to be administered for treating gout in TIM, we decided to investigate drugs used to target gout. To accomplish this, five of most important references of TIM form the 9th to the 18th century were investigated for gout remedies. For all herbal remedies, an extensive search of the scientific data banks, Medline and Scopus, was done to find recent possible results concerning the xanthine oxidase inhibitory, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic activities. One hundred and nine plant species, 31 animals, 14 minerals, and one mushroom were identified. Fourteen, twenty eight and three plant species have shown in vitro xanthine oxidase inhibitory, anti inflammatory and analgesic activities, respectively; also nine, forty and twenty two in vivo activities and two, seventeen and eight human studies were carried out for these three properties. Fifty-four drugs were cited in at least three references. TIM has the potential to be a very rewarding source of medical and medicinal knowledge. Then, a special focus should be put on drugs as well as the therapeutic method targeting the gout treatment. Owing to the limited attention so far paid to treating gout in TIM, it seems pertinent to conduct a systematic research on remedies which were used in TIM.http://rhm.sums.ac.ir/article_42865_5307898d96333d617353f80694363b08.pdfAnalgesicAnti-inflammatoryGoutHyperuricemiaTraditional Iranian MedicineXanthine oxidase inhibitoryengShiraz University of Medical SciencesJournal of Research on History of Medicine2251-886X2251-886X2012-11-011442864BibliographyAn attitude to Philosophical Medicine in Bibliography of Dastur al-Alag manuscript, from Shiraz University of Medical Sciences MuseumAhmad A. Murisasnad@sums.ac.ir1Museum and Historical Documents Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranThis study is about philosophical view of Soltan Ali Khorasani Gonabadi, the writer of Dastur al-Alag manuscript, dating back to 1524 AD, on physicians. The original manuscript, kept at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences Museum, was studied thoroughly. In the preface of the book, Soltan Ali Khorasani Gonabadi explained his holistic view on medicine and considered ethical and philosophical bases important for physicians.http://rhm.sums.ac.ir/article_42864_ecf2ce7995eae5304dc0a8f122d2f0e2.pdfAmir Seyyed Fathollah ShiraziMughal EmpireIndiaSafavid dynastyDelhiDar al Elm of Shiraz doctrine